TCAA dismisses reports of smuggling of wild animals from airports
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has dismissed as unfounded and misleading, information circulating via social media on smuggling of wild animals directly from Loliondo to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to a statement released on Monday by the TCAA and signed by its Director General, Hamza Johari, the claims and other related information on smuggling through Loliondo were utterly untrue.
“It should be noted that UAE Air force flight from Loliondo to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) lastly operated on July 19th 2023, contrary to the spreading information,” reads part of the statement.
“The last UAE flight was on July 19th, 2023, when it was enroute to KIA. This flight had a total of 18 Tanzanians on board and eight crew members who were from the UAE (four pilots, two engineers and two loadmasters). Furthermore, the flight transported normal baggage, which was offloaded upon reaching KIA,” the statement said.
It further said that TCAA has a real-time flight tracking system and all international flights enter and depart through official airports such as KIA, Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA), Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) and other designated entry/exit points (airports).
“Loliondo is not an entry/exit airport to/from Tanzania,” said Mr Johari in his statement.
He said according to the international aviation laws, aircraft from one country to another cannot be received without permission to land at or overfly the airspace of a country concerned.
“This, therefore, means all international aircraft bound for the United Republic of Tanzania must land at one of the entry/exit points such as JNIA, KIA, Mwanza, Musoma and Dodoma Airports,” the statement said.
TCAA said in its statement that it will collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure that safety of the airspace of the country is upheld.
